English 204

General Nature of the Course

This course functions very much like a correspondence course; the chief difference is the electronic environment and your relatively immediate access to your instructor (me). Also instead of students submitting work on paper, assignments are submitted, commented upon and returned via e-mail; lecture material, course deadlines, assignment information are available via the internet.

Lectures: There are a series of online Lectures on topics related to your reading and writing. Be sure to read the lecture material for each week listed because this should help you to understand what some of my expectations and special concerns are about your reading and writing.

Class Schedule: You will need to regularly keep track of assignment (reading and writing) due dates by referring to the Class Schedule. It is up to you to keep up with assignment deadlines. I strongly recommend that you bookmark the Class Schedule page.

Essays: Much of your grade is based on your written assignments. There are detailed instructions on how to produce and submit essays on the class Writing Assignments page. Be sure you read this carefully; if you submit a paper in the incorrect format, for example, it will not be accepted. Specific paper topic instructions can be reached through the links on the Class Schedule page or the Writing Assignments page.

Class Discussions: The rest of your grade will be based on class discussions of certain questions relating to the readings. Discussions will be conducted with the entire class on an Canvas message board (more information is available on the Discussions page). Be sure to read over details on how to earn maximum points on discussions.

Student Learning Objectives

Student who complete this course successfully should, minimally, be able to

Recognize distinctive features of the major writers, literary works, movements, trends and genres in World Literature from the Renaissance to the present.

Employ critical thinking and college-level methods and terminology of literary analysis to the reading that demonstrates an understanding of these works in context, including, though not limited to historical, philosophical, social, political, religious, psychological, biographical, artistic backgrounds.

Produce well-developed essays with standard MLA formatting and documentation that support premises about literary works by using logical observations supported by textual examples

Student Responsibilities

Your responsibilities for this course are really the same as those of any student taking any course with the following addition: you have to keep reminding yourself what is required (assignment dates, rules, etc.) because you don't have an instructor in the front of a room reminding you every class.

You will do all of the assignments. This means you need to look at the Course Schedule often to make sure when work (reading, writing, lectures, discussions) are due. Keep up with all lectures, readings, discussions, writing assignments.
You will have all of the textbooks for this course. You need not buy them, but all assigned readings are required.
You will seek all legitimate help with your course work. That means that when you have questions you will e-mail me immediately or come see me during my office hours on campus. You should also consider taking English 67 (the Writing Lab) if you need additional tutoring.
You will not cheat. It's fine to get legitimate help; it's not all right to plagiarize. I am well aware that papers can be bought. I am also very savvy about finding those papers (both in print sources and on the internet). The English Department at LAHC has several resources (one is Plagiserve; there are several others) which allow us to track stolen or bought papers. Likewise, using AI (such as ChatGPT) to write your papers for you is cheating; it is not YOU demonstrating that YOU can articulate YOUR OWN IDEAS.
You will not threaten or belittle (or flame) other students in class discussions. DO feel free to present opposing arguments on ANY subject, but do not personally attack others in the class.
You will be bound by all other codes of student conduct listed in the college catalogue.
Title IX (of the 1972 Education Amendments) protects students and staff alike from discrimination based on sex, including Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault, which are forms of Sexual Misconduct. Under Title IX, all people in the educational environment must be treated equitably, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or expression, and/or transgender identity. For more information: http://www.laccd.edu/Departments/DistrictResources/OfficeOfDiversity/TitleIX/Pages/default.aspx
If you have experienced or learned of a possible violation of Title IX and/or would like to know about options, resources (including confidential services), the law, or District policy, please do not hesitate to contact a Title IX Coordinator.
LAHC Campus Title IX Coordinators : Peggy Loewy Wellisch (310) 233-4321 loewywp@lahc.edu & Dawn Reid (310)233-4237 reidd@lahc.edu District Title IX Office: Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (213) 891-2315 TitleIX@email.laccd.edu

If you do not agree to all of the above requirements, do not take this course.

Textbooks

Confusing Textbook Note

OK, so why are there options given for the anthology, the main textbook?

The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: Fifth Continental Edition has gone out of print. It has readings for both Woirld Lit. sections in one volume, and is relatively inexpensive. I already miss it. If you can find a cheap copy online, grab it! If not, I have ordered the newer-and-yes-more-expensive Norton Anthology of World Literature: Shorter Third Edition ("shorter" is a relativer term; this is a big book, and it is two volumes; our class uses Volume 2).

Most of the texts can be found in libraries and live bookstores; you can also get them online (to buy, rent, new, used, in e-versions), often much cheaper than in a brick-and-mortar store.

Required Texts:

Well, readings are required, but no one specific text is needed. The following have most (or all) of the readings for the course:

The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: Fifth Continental Edition, Ed. Maynard Mack
or
The Norton Anthology or World Literature: Shorter Third Edition (Volume 2), Ed. Martin Puchner
or
see CONFUSING TEXTBOOK NOTE in the pinkish box to the right

We also have two short novels:

The Sorrows of Young Werther, Wolfgang von Goethe (Note: this is available online if you prefer)
Eye in the Sky, Philip K. Dick OR any work of fiction by Haruki Murakami
Additional short readings for the course are available here: Online World Literature Anthology

Also consider getting used texts or marketplace (independent seller) books (though check their ratings to see if they are reliable). I have gotten many out-of-print books for 1 penny + shipping :)

Recommended Text:

Hiroshima mon Amour, Marguerite Duras

Note: many of the readings on our Schedule are available in libraries and/or online, though not all are. It does not matter which translations of the works you read, but you are responsible for doing the reading. Getting one of the anthologies is going to make your life a lot easier. Besides; they are neat books!

There are other reasons I recommend getting one of the anthologies: the translations and apparatus are terrific. Norton editions generally have excellent information to help you understand the context (historical, philosophical, scientific, literary, biographical information) surrounding the readings.

There are copies of all texts at the campus bookstore. Many websites offer you the option of renting texts for substantially less money (don't forget to return them). Also consider getting used texts or marketplace (independent seller) books (though check their ratings to see if they are reliable). I have gotten many out-of-print books for 1 penny + shipping :)

Grading

Each assignment will receive a point score; letter grades are based on percentages (90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; etc.); for example, if a discussion is worth 20 points possible, and if you score a 16, then you have scored 80% which equals a B for that assignment.

At the end of the semester, your overall score will be converted into a percentage of the points possible for the entire course to determine your letter grade for the course.

Once posted grades will be available for view on Canvas.

And for specific information on extra credit, revisions, essay requirements, visit the class Writing Assignments page; for more details on how to score high on class discussions, visit the class Discussion page.